Okay, since I haven't posted a blog for awhile I thought I would share this. I am supposed to write an article once a month for our church newsletter. Which means, I have to try to tie a spiritual message to each article when sometimes I'd love to just tell them a story without any strings attached. So, here is January's submission for your consideration.
This is not the article I was going to write. The article I was going to write was cheerful and encouraging and included reflections about the new year and turning over new leaves. But as I sat down to write this article, I heard a large crash in my back yard. I briefly considered getting up to check it out but decided it was probably my neighbors throwing trash into their dumpster. I was wrong.
30 minutes later upon approaching the back door to let Reggie (our dog) out, I was confronted with the source of the aforementioned noise. A giant tree-limb had fallen directly onto my car. (I am seriously considering giving up my tree-hugging ways.) It shattered the windshield and left numerous ugly gashes and dents. And that is when I decided that 2009 is going to be a mean, bully of a year.
I know a lot of us said “good-riddance” to 2008 and are now looking towards 2009 with hope and anticipation of what it may bring. (For me that now includes a costly car repair.) I hope 2009 is better for all of us than 2008. I hope it is better for our nation and for the people of other nations around the world. But, what if it isn’t better? What if it’s the same…or even worse?
In Jeremiah 29 some of God’s chosen people had been forced into exile by King Nebuchadnezzar, from Jerusalem to Babylon. They had been assured by false prophets that the exile would soon end. But the prophet Jeremiah tells them to settle into life as exiles and to pray for the city they live in, to continue having children and practicing their faith. Jeremiah predicts that they will remain in exile for 70 years. But God tells them, through Jeremiah, in verse 11, “I know the plans I have for you…plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future of hope.” Put another way, “I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” (The Message)
So, maybe merely changing the calendar from 2008 to 2009 won’t usher in the resounding change we’re looking for. That isn’t reason for us to become too discouraged. If we can have the patience to wait upon the Lord, God has plans for us – and they’re good ones! That is news that I will be happy to carry with me into 2009.
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